Strand-separating mechanism



March 24, 1925. 1,530,605

s. MAGl NA N O STRAND SEPARATING MECHANISM l Original Filed July 23, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet l i l @l Z2,

Y www March 24, 1925.

Original Filed July 23, 1919 STRAND SEPARATING MECHAN ISM 4 Sheets-SheetE Je bewfwia iayimwia March 24, 1925.

- 1,530,605 s. MAGNANO STRAND SEPARATING MEcHANIsM original Filed July 25 919 4 sheets-sen s March 24, 1925. 1,530,605

S. MAGNANO STRAND SEPARATING MECHANISM Original Filed July 23, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 50o /a )fw/7 y N yzygl ,e g .ze o o O a@ o o 0 f'eaSZz'arzoJgmvzo, al Zlaifmy ,E111/enfer Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SEBASTIANO MAGNANO, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MAGNANO CORPORATION, 0F LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, .A CORPORATION :OF MASSA- CI-IUSETTS.

STRAND-SEPARATING MECIIANISM.

Original application' filed July 23, 1919, Serial No. 312,765. Divided andtliis application filed June 23, 1923. Seria1.No.,647,253;

State of Massachusetts, have invented new4 and useful Improvements in Strand-Sepa rating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for automatically separating threads one by one from a sheet Vof threads disposed substantially in the same plane and while capable of geneial application as for example to yarn leasing machines, warp drawing ma chines or warp uniting machines is intended and more particularly designed for use in a machine for applying metallic drop wires to loom wai-ps, such a machine heilig more fully disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 312,765, filed July 23, 1919 of which this is a division.

In such machines it is desirable successively and rapidly to pick off or separate the end-most warps from the sheet of warps in order to permit the certain application of the drop wires thereto, and the object of the present invention is to'provide means capable of performing this separating operation automatically and with accuracy.`

One practical embodiment of means for fari'ying into effect the above objects as illiistrated in the accompanying drawings in which z-l- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the right hand side of the apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation to larger scale showing the oppositeside of the apparatus,

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the apparatus. y

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the mechanisni for progressing the device across the series of warp threads.

Fig. (i is a detail view of a thread separating device. i

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and l0 are diagran'iniatic side elevations of the thread separating and po sitioning devices, illustrating the sequence of operations iii isolating a thread for receiving its drop wire,

Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary, horizontal sectional views to enlarged scale illustrating the opeiation of springing a drop Wire t0 permit it to slip over thread,

Fi 13 is a fragmentary elevation to large scale illustrating the position of a drop wire relative to its thread in passing over the latter; and A y Figs. 111, 15, `16 Vand 17 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the detector device which' controls the movement of the machine across the series of threads.

As loestshown in Fig. 8, my novel apparatus'is supported upon frame bars or rails. 1 which are designed to loe arranged transversely of a loom above the sheet of warp threads indicated at 2. VThese rails maybe considered as constituting apart of the general mechanism herein disclosed as they are carried with the other parts thereof from loom to loom and serve as a hase or support for the operative instrumentalities of the machine. The loars 3 are of the usual kind employed in looms of the Draper type for 'retaining the Ahair pin vdrop wires in proper position and overl which such wires are straddled. While hars of this type are herein disclosed, it is to he understood that they form no part of the present invention and that retainer bars of other types suoli as those commonly employed in the Crompton-Knowles loom may be employed if desii-ed. In the ylatter type of loom the bars serve merely as partitions to separate the variousbanks of drop wires, but do not support them. Lease rods of usual design are indicated at 4, such rods serving to di- AvideV the. wa-rps into upperand lower series,

alternate warps lying in such upper and lower groups. p

To facilitate the automatic progression of the machine along the bars or rails 1, the latter are provided at their inner sides and preferably below their upper horizontal edges with racksv 5, internieshed with which are spur gears 6 on shafts 7 and 7" (Fig. 1) journaled in the lower portion of the niachine fra-me 8, adjacent to opposite ends of said frame. The shaft 7 is provided at one end with a hand wheel Slfo'r the manual movement of the frame 8 and the mechanism carried thereby.

1f for any reason it should he desired to dispense with the automatic traverse of the machine, such racks and gears may be omitted without in any way affecting the general mode of operation of the more essential inf struinentalities of the machine, which may in such case be moved from side to side of the loom by hand.

Adjacent to the end of said shaft 7 opposite the hand wheel is a ratchet 10, Figures 2 and 3 for cooperation with which there is provided a pawl 11 on an arm 12 that is loosely mounted on the shaft 7. Connected to the said arm 12 is a pitman 13 which is also connected to a crank pin on an arm 14 fixed upon the primary drive shaft 15 which preferably, though not necessarily, derives motion from an electric motor. The pawl 11 is pivotally connected to the arm 12 and the pitman 13, and is controlled by mea-ns hereinafter described. It will be apparent that while oscillation of the arm 12 will attend the revolution of the drive shaft 15, the shaft 7 will be rotated and the frame 8 and the mechanism thereon will be moved'from the drive- Y shaft 15only when the pawl 11 is permitted 'to engage the ratchet 10. The shaft 7 may however, be rotated at any time by manual operation of the hand wheel 9. Y

On the drive shaft 15 is a sprocket gear 16, and in the upper portion of the frame 8 kis joarnaled a shaft 17, having fixed thereon a sprocket gear 18 and carrying four cams 19. Below the drive shaft 15 is a shaft 20 at one side of t-he machine (see Fig. 2) and on which is a loose idler sprocket gear 21, and below the shaft 20 is a shaft 22 on which is fixed a sprocket gear 23. A shaft 24 extends transversely across the frame at its front upper portion and fixed thereon at opposite ends are cranks 25. A sprocket gear 2G is also fast on shaft 24 and at 27 and 28 are idler sprocket gears supported Aupon the stub shafts V27, 28a respectively eral surfaces of the respective cams 19. A yoke extends upwardly from the frame 8, and interposed between the transverse portion of the said yoke 34and the several arms 31 are retractile springs 35 which serve yieldingly to hold the antifriction wheels 33 in engagement with the surfaces of the cams 19.

Fixed on the drive shaft 15 and relatively arranged as best shown Ain Figures 2 and 4, are cams 40 and 41, and engaging the peripheral surfaces of the respective cams are laterally extending lugs 42,011

rocker arms 43, which lugs 42 are held under yielding pressure against the cams by retractile springs 44 acting on the rear ends of arms 43. These cams are of complemental form having active portions 40a, 40", 41, .41", respectively with interposed dwells 40C, 40d, 41C, 41d, respectively, the dwell portions of each cam being diametrically opposite one another, and the portions 400, 41, being of greater extent than the portions 40", 41h.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that oscillation of the arms 31 and the rocker arms 43, as well as rotation of the shaft 24, will attend rotation of the drive shaft 15.

The cranks 25 at the ends of the shaft 24 as best shown in Figure 3 each comprises the portions 25a, the portions 25b and the portions 25E, Figures 1 and 3; said portions, 25, 25b and 25C being integral or fixed with respect to each other. The triple cranks thus formed have their crank pins arranged substantially 900 apart. Said crank pins are connected through links 45, 4G and 47; 45a, 46a, 47a, respectively, with members 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, guided to reciprocate vertically in the machine frame and which serve to actuate the warp separating' and positioning devices, all of which will be described at length hereinafter.

Pivotally connected to and depending from the free ends of the arms 31 are rods 55 which are respectively pivotally connected at their lower ends to brackets 5G carried by the slides 57, Figure 3. Four magazines for drop wires 59 are arranged in a transverse series in the machine frame, each magazine being provided with a horizontal rod that extends in the direction of the length thereof and is fixedly supported at the rear end of the magazine. Each magazine may also comprise a bottom wall andside walls, but if the magazine is to be used for holding Ldrop wires of the straight` sided type, the side and bottom wal-ls of the magazine may be omitted altogether and the wires suspended from the guide rods.

Movable in each magazine 62 is a follower 68, Figure 2, and each follower has two stems 69 that extend loosely through a crossbar or plate 70 and are provided with heads in the rear of said cross-bar. Surrounding the stems 69 and interposed between the followers 68 and the cross-bar 70 are expansion springs 71 which have for their function to hold the followers 63 under yielding pressure against the drop wires 59 disposed in front of the followers. At its opposite endsthe cross-bar 70 is provided with `internally threaded sleeves 72 which constitute nuts engaging threaded shafts 73, so that rotation of the shafts in one direction willbe attended by the simultaneous forward movement of the followers 68 whereby to compact the series of drop wires in the magazine and to gradually feed them toward the discharge end thereof.

The slides 57 are guided for vertical reciprocation in dovetail slots 57a in a platelike head or support 57b suitably secured in the vertically extending members Sa, Sl of the frame S. The rearward face of the head 57b .is spaced from the forward end of the magazine a distance very slightly greater than the thickness of one of the drop wires for use with which the machine is intended.

T he dovetail slots 57 have vertically disposed centrally arranged extensions opening` at the rear face of head 57", such extensions being of less width than the width of the drop wires and disposed with their vertical center lines substantially in the vertical central planes of the respective magazine compartments. Thus as the drop pins are forced forwardly in the magazine the lateral portions of the front fare of the foremost wires come into contact with the rear face of the head 57 b on either side of the slots 57a, such head 57b thus serving as a stop or abutment for limiting' the movement of the wires in the magazine. Passing through a suitable opening in each of the slides 57 is a selector pin 58, suitably secured in said opening, preferably in an adjustable manner. The pins 58 project te the rear of the slides 57 and pass through the extensions of the slots 57a, the rear ends of such selector pins extending beyond the rear wall of the head 571 to a distance slightly less than the thickness of one of the drop wires.

Fixed on the rear ends of the shafts 73 are miter gears that are intermeshed with mi'ter gears fixed on a shaft 76 on which is also fixed a ratchet 77. For cooperation with the ratchet 77, and in order to turn the shaft 7 G and feed the followers 68 forwardly in a step byl step manner, I provide the pawl 7S pivoted to an arm 79 that is loose upon the shaft 7G and is oscillated through the medium of a link 89, by an arm 81 on a shaft S2. The shaft 82 is provided at the opposite side of the machine frame with an arm 83, Figure 2, that is connected through a link S41; with a crank 95 lixed to the shaft 22, whereby the shaft 82 will be rocked and the shaft To will be turned, step by step, for the purpose before described When the supply of drop wires 59 .in the n'iagazine is del'ileted, the bar 78 is disenthe ratchet wheel 77 and the rot-ated in reverse direction through the medium of a crank 400 having a spur gear 1101 fixed with respect thereto, said gear meshing with a spur gear 492 fixed on the shaft 76. This arrangement is best shown in Figure 1.

Fixed with respect to the pawl 11, (Figs.

n red from shaft 76 is 2 and 4t) is a rod 90, and fixed to and depending' from said rod 90 is a. stem 91 having at its lowerv end a hammer 92 adapted to rest on a considerable number of warp threads, such number varying of course with the lineness of the warps employed. As herein illustrated. the hammer is shown' as engaging a very limited number of yarns, as of 'course the relative size of the latter as respects the mechanism has been greatly' exaggerated for clearness of illustration. Commonly the hammer would engage from forty to one hundred threads.

The said stem 91 is provideifl with an abutment `in the form of a collar 93, and passes loosely througl'i a guide 94s on a rocker arm 95, the collar 93 being above the guide 94. The arm 95 is pivoted at 9G and is connected through a link 97 with one of the rocker arms 43, so as to derive oscillatory motion therefrom. Manifestly when the pawl 11 is supported out of engagement with the ratchet 10 by the imposition of the hammer 92 on a plurality of warp threads as stated, the frame or carriage 8 will remain at rest unless moved manually; When, however, the warp threads have all been removed from under the said hammer 92 and said hammer is permitted to movedownwardly, the carriage 8 will be moved in the direction indicated by the large arrow at the bottom of Figure 2, which direction will hereinafter be referred to as rearwardly.

The subsequent upward movement of the hammer 92 will be effected by the guide 9-:t bringing up against the abutment 93 on the stem 91. As indicated in Figures 2, and 14, the hammer 92 normally rests upon one or more of the warp threads 2 which as yet have not been supplied with drop wires. lf desired the parts may be so proportioned that at each upward oscillation of the arm 95 the hammer will be lifted slightly from the threads. While this is not strictly necessary, it is desirable, as it tends to facilitate the restoration of the hammer to proper opierative position after it has been permitted to fall. y

The threads are selected one by one and removed from beneath the hammer 92, and as the last thread is removed, the hammer is permitted to fall with the downward oscillation of arm 95 as indicated in Figure 15. The pawl 11 immediately engages a tooth of the ratchet wheel 10 and therethrough serves to impart a traverse movement to the inachine frame rearwardly along its supi'iorting.: rails 1. rllhis movement will usually be of the order of one eighth of an inch and is suilicient to carry the hammer 92 into position for engagement with a fresh group of threads. As the machine moves rearwardly the hammer is moved upward simultaneously with or immediately after such movement of the frame. As the frame moves it ycarries the rear side of the hammer into en- -gagement with the warp threads, thus crowding them back as indicated in Fig. 16. The rear side of the hammer may be straight and substantially vertical if desired, or of any other form not seriously interfering with its upward 'movement past the group of threads with which it contacts.

As the arm 95 now oscillates vupwardly and the lower face of the hammer rises above the plane of the warp threads, the bunched up threads spring forward and distribute themselves in the normal warp plane as indicated in Figure 17, thus serving to support the hammer as the hammer liftingarm 95 begins its next down stroke. As the hammer is raised to normal position, pawl l1 is raised from contact with ratchet wheel 10 and thus the movement of the machine frame ceases until the new group of threads beneath the hammer is exhausted.

lMovable longitudinally of the carriage of frame 8 in a plane below the magazines are opener rods 500, four in number and so denominated because they are provided at their forward ends with lateral arms 95a adapted to spring apart the legs of pins 59 after the manner shown in Figures 11 and'12. As the drop wire emerges from ther magazine, it lies substantially inthe plane of its respective warp thread and it is thus obviously necessary to flex oneor both legs of the drop wire out of such plane in order to permit the legs to pass upon vopposite sides of the yarn as they are projected toward it.

This operation is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 wherein the legs m, n. of the drop wires are shown in the normal plane before engagement by the arms 95a of the slide rods 500, and also with the leg n. pushed forwardly out of such plane by the action of the arm 95a. In Fig. 13 is shown the result of such operation, the drop wire having nearly completed its movement and straddling over `the thread. It will be understood that at the beginning of such flexing movement, the upper part of the drop wire is still gripped between the rearwallof the head 57" and the next succeeding drop wire, thus permitting the arm 95 to flex forward the leg a of the wire without substantially affecting the position ofthe other leg.

The said rods'500 are guided for reciprocating movement by passingv through suitable openings in cross-bars 96, and have their rear ends connected to a cross-head 97d which, in turn, is connected by links 98, with arms 99 and 81 on theshaft 82.

To each of the rocker arms L13 is secured a downwardly extending fingeras 100, 100, constituting a hold-back for `warp threads. The two fingers 100, 100l are locatedl upon opposite sides ofthe crossing point X of the leased warps. As will be clear from linspection of said gure the leasing of the warps divides them into two series, the threads of the series A passing above the lease rod 4 and below the lease rod iln while the threads of series B pass below lease rod tand above lease rod 4a. lingers 100, 100a is such that when in the lowermost position they extend below the plane of the warps lying above the lease rods but do not contact with warps passing below said rods.

As alternate warp threads lie in series A and B respectively it will be clear that, if for example, the foremost thread belongs to the B series and the hold-back finger 100 is down as shown in Fig. 3, while the holdback finger 100u is up and entirely out of contact with the threads, it will only be possible to pick oif and separate the foremost B thread from the entire mass of wrap threads. This thread is entirely free, holdback 100a being up, but the next thread, being the foremost A thread is held back by finger 100. As the second B thread crosses behind the front A thread, it cannot escape until the latter thread has been released. Thus the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 3, it is only possible to separate a single thread, and that the foremost B-thread, from the entire mass of wraps.

As the hold-back fingers 100, 100a are moved down into operative position alternately by operation of cams 40, 41, as above described, the foremost threads of the series A and BL respectively, are alternately released but in each case only a single thread is free for separation from the warp sheet.

For separating the released foremost thread, whether from series A or B, a thread separator or picker is employed. This picker comprises a flexible blade 101 (Figs. 3 and 6) secured to a collar or bracket 102 fixed on shaft 22.

For properly holding the separated threads for the reception of the drop wires, and to convey the loaded warps away from said position, the following vmechanism is employed. To the lower ends of members 201, 206, are secured thread retainers 201, 206, respectively and to the lower ends of members 202, 205 are secured thread pushers .202, 205a respectively. To t-hc innermost members 203, respectively are secured brackets 203, 20T-having downwardly extending fingers 300, 301, 302, 300, 301, 302, 303 respectively.

As the thread retainers, pushers and positioners upon opposite sides of the machine are substantially alike, and are operated simultaneously and by substantially like mechanism and for the same purpose it is necessary to describe but one set of these members in detail. As indica-ted in Figs. 7 to 10, the thread retainer 201a is a substantially straight vertically disposed bar having its lower end terminating in a sharp The length of the hold-back edge directed somewhat to the rear as indicated at- Q01".

The thread pusher 202a comprises a downwardly directed rod having its lower ond curved toward the rear to provide an upwardly and forwardly extending cam surface 2021. The thread positioner comprises the substantially horizontal rearwardly extending bracket 203 having depending from its front end the finger 302 curved rearwardly at its lower extremity. From the central portion of the bracket 203a a pair of spaced iingers 300, 301, extend downwardly providing between them a narrow vertical slot 310. The lower ends of the lingers 300, 301 are curved in opposite directions thus providing a flaring mouth 311 leading to the slot 310. The width of the slot 310 may be substantially equal to the diameter of the warp threads with which the machine is to be employed. If desired the lower ends of the fingers 301, 302 may be united, this however being unessential.

To the rear end of one or both of the thread positioner brackets 2031, 2011*L another depending linger as 303 (Fig. 1) having a forwardly directed lower extremity may be secured. This finger serves as a retainer for the. unseparated series of threads and while useful under some circumstances is not necessary to the successful operation of the mechanism and is not indicated in Figs. 7 to 10.

The operation of the machine in generali" `is as follows, it being understood that the warp threads are in `:position in the loom frame and that the loom is ready to operate. In fact, if desired, the loom may be in operation for weaving during the operation of the machine herein disclosed.

The warps being stretched across the loom frame as above stated, the rail members 1 are placed transversely across and above the warps and secured to the loom f lame in any desired manner.` The machine herein disclosed is then set upon the rails at the extreme right hand side of the loom, that is to say, the front of the wire placing machine. is directed toward the right hand side of the loom frame. The several compartments of the magazine are now supplied with drop wires which are compacted by the following members 68. The machine is now moved rearwardly along the rails by means of the hand wheel 9 until the hainmer 92 is brought above the right hand a, Z1 and a have been provided with drop wires. The threads designated a, a etc. are intended to indicate those of the A series as shown in Fig. 3 while the threads etc. are those of the B series of said tigure, that is to say, the threads indicated by a, a pass over the front lease rod 1- of the loom while the threads Z), b pass over the rear lease rod 4 of the loom. In Fig. 7 the. hold-back iinger 100 is in engagement with a thread e2 of the A series thereby holding this thread back and preventing its separation from the mass of warp threads. As the next thread b2 crosses behind the thread a? at the crossing point X of the lease it is unable to escape and the same is true of all preceding threads of the series.

The hold-back finger 100a is in inoperative position and thus the foremost thread b of the B series is free from restraint. The separator blade 101 is shown as sweeping downward in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 7, and as having moved over the threads d2, Z22, without affecting the latter. The blade has however, begun to move the thread ZJ to the right. In the same ligure the thread retainer 201a is shown in. position for preventing the threads a, which already have received their drop wires from snapping back toward the unloaded series from which they have been separated. This retainer device as indicated in this figure is on its way up.

In the same ligure the thread pusher device 202l is moving downwardly and is Shown as engaging the thread a which has just received its drop wire. As this pusher' device moves downwardly and the retainer device 201@ moves upwardly the thread a will be pushed in a transverse direction into the series including the threads a', l).

Figure 8 shows the operation as having proceeded somewhat further, the thread a having been pushed over against the thread b and the retainer 201"L having moved downwardly again to retain such thread in position. The thread pusher 202a is now moving upwardly. The separato-r blade 101 has moved toa sul'licient extent to bring the thread b into the vertical plane of movement of the thread positioner comprising the spaced arms 300, 301. This device is shown in Fig. 8 as moving downwardly and having just engaged suoli thread whereby to hold it for reception of a drop wire.

In Fig. 9 the thread retainer 201a is shown as still retaining the thread a. The thread pusher is indicated as beginning the downward movement, its lower extremity passing behind the thread o ready for engagement therewith. The positioner is now going up and about to release the thread which has received its drop wire from the wire placing device. The hold-back member 100 is just swinging away from its operative position while the hold-back member 101 has been m'oved to operative position. The exchange of the hold-back members has resulted in the release of the foremost thread a? of the A series, while the foremost thready b2 is held against separation from the other threads by the finger 101. The holding back of the thread b2 now serves to prevent movement of any of the threads such as a3, 3 lying to the rear thereof. rPhe separator blade 100 is shown as having completed substantially three-fourths of a revolution and as being about to engage the warp threads in the plane of the crossing X.

In Figure 10, the parts are shown in substantially the po'sition'of Fig. 9 with the exception that the blade 101 has moved slightly7 further and is now engaging` warp threads such as as, b3, the blade being flexible and dragging freely over these threads. As the thread CL2 is free of restraint however, the blade will after passing thread b2, snap down between the threads (a2, 3 in the manner indicated in Figure 9 and the operation as above outlined will be. repeated.

At veach rotation of the blade 101 a picker member 58 will be moved downwardly by its corresponding cam 19 and will positively push downwardly the foremost drop wire from its particular magazine compartment. As the drop wire beginsto move downwardly, the corresponding finger 95a is moved forwardly to spring one of the legs of the drop wire out of its normal plane as indicated in Fig. 12. The thread is at this time held at opposite sides of the machine by the thread positioner devices and directly below the path of the descending drop wire which is thus caused to strad'dle such thread in the manner indicated in Fig. 13, the plane of the drop wire being substantially parallel to the axis of the thread.

As each thread isprovided with a drop wire it is moved by the pusher devices ont of the path of the descending dr-op wires and the loaded threads are held against backward movement by the retainers. As the machine continues to operate the pawl 78 actuates the ratchet wheel 77 and through the connections vdescribed turns the screw threaded rods 73, thus slowly moving the follower plates 68 toward the front of the machine and feeding thev drop wires along the magazine compartments toward their discharge ends.

As the machine continues to pick off warp threads from the unloaded series it may gradually be progressed along the rails by manipulation of the hand wheel 9 in order to permit the separator blade 101 to operatively engage fresh threads of the series. It however, it is desired to have the machine operate automatically, the hammer device 92 is employed, such device as above stated resting at the beginning of the loperation upon a series of the unloaded threads. The hammer may be of suflicient extent to rest upon from 40 to 100 threads, suoli being approximately the number that the separator device can reach without movement of the mechanism along the track.

It being assumed now that the group of threads beneath the hammer is exhausted, the hammer will drop as indicated in Fig. 15 whereupon the pawl 11 drops into a tooth of the ratchet wheel 10. The next vibration of the' pawl moves the ratchet wheel thereby to traverse the machine along its rails a distance substantially equal to the length of the hammer. Such length may beof lthe order of 1/8 of an inch. As the hammer movesV laterally with the machine while in its lower position, it of course, tends to compact or pile up the adjacent warp threads as indicated in Fig. 16. As the arm 95 is continually' oscillating, the member 94 lifts the hammer 92 almost immediately after its dropping, carrying it to a point slightly' above the plane of the war'ps. vAs the warps 2 are under some tension they immediately snap beneath the hammer as indicated in Fig. 17 and upon the downward oscillation of the member 95, the hammer again rests upon the warp threads. The pawl 11 is thus rendered inoperative and the machine remains at rest until vanother exhaustion of threads beneath the hammer.

In its general mode of operation the machine is not dependent upon the particular type of 'drop wire employed, as drop wires having parallel edges or edges of any desired figuration may be placed on the warp threads by the machine, it being simply necessary to change the shape of the magazine walls to conform to such wires. It is furthermore evident that while certain specitic operative connections have been disclosed whereby to transmit motion from the main drive shaft to the several operative instrul'nent'alities, other and equivalent connecting mechanisms might be substituted without in any manner departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is also clear that changes in the specific shapes and relative proportions of the various thread manipulating devices as well as changes looking' toward the proper adjustment of the various mechanisms may be embodied in the structure without in any manner changing the fundamental mode of operation of the same.

I claim:

1. That method of separating strands one by one from a plurality of strands which comprises arranging said strands in two series with the strands from each series in alternation and lying in intersecting planes. holding back all the strands of one of said series at a point to one side ofthe line of intersection of said planes, and passing a strand separating instrument in wiping contact over said strands adjacent to and substantially parallel to said line of intersec` tion.

2. That method of separating successive strands from a series of continuous strands which comprises leasing said strands to provide two groups lying in intersecting planes, and alternately holding back a single strand of one of said groups at points at opposite sides of theline of intersection of said planes whereby to restrain all but the foremost strand of the other group, and picking off said unrestrained foremost strand by means of an instrument engaging said strand with wiping contact.

3. That method of separating successive strands from a plurality of strands which comprises leasing said strands to form two series lying in intersecting planes with the strands of said series alternating at the line of intersection of said planes, holding back all the strands of each series alternately by engagement with the endmost strand thereof at a point to one side of the line of intersection, and picking ofi' the endmost strand of the unheld series by passing a strand separating instrument in wiping contact over said strands at a point intermediate the points at which the strands are alternately held back.

4. That method of separating successive strands from a plurality of strands which comprises arranging said strands in alternation to form ,two series lying in planes` intersecting along a single line, `holding back all the strands of one of said series at a point to one side of the line of intersection of said planes, picking olf the endmost strand of the other series by wiping engagement'. therewith adjacent to said line of intersection while maintaining the position of all other strands unchanged, releasing the strands of said first series, holding back the strands of the other series by engagement therewith at a point upon the opposite side of said line of intersection, and picking ofi" the endmost strand of said first series.

5. In a machine of the class described, a carriage movable over a sheet of strands, means for restraining all but the endmost of said strands against transverse movement, means for separating the endmost strand from the series, means for temporarily holding said separated strand in a predetermined position and means for moving such strand further from said series upon its release from the restraining means.

G. Mechanism of the class described comprising means for picking` off the endinost thread from a series of threads, means for temporarily holding the picked oli' thread stationary in a predetermined position spaced from adjacent threads of the series, and means for further moving said thread in the same direction away from said predetermined position to a new position and for retaining it in the latter position.

7. Mechanism for separating successive threads from a sheet of continuous threads comprising a picker for picking ofi' the endmost thread of the sheet, and substantially like groups of elements spaced longitudinally of the thread and constructed and arranged to` receive the thread from the picker temporarily to hold it stationary and separated from adjacent threads, to move it transversely of its length to a new position, and to retain it in its new position.

8. In a machine for operating upon warp threads, warp positioning means comprising .a pair of lease rods for dividing the warps into distinct series, a pair of warp hold-back devices alternately operable to engage a single thread, and a single warp separator common to both series of warps and movable in the plane of crossing of the threads of the two series and intermediate lsaid hold-back devices. j

9. In combination, in mechanism for manipulating strands, means for supporting :strands in two intersecting series, hold-back means engageable with the foremost strand only of one of said series, and separator means movable into engagement with the endmost strand of the other series adjacent to the plane at which the strands of the respective series cross, for parting such endmost strand from the other strands of both series.

l0. In mechanism of the class described, means for supporting yarns in two series, the strands of said series alternating and intercrossing in substantially a single plane, means for holding back the foremost yarns of the respective series, means for rendering operative said hold-back means in alternation, and a rotary separator device movable into engagement with said yarns substantially at said plane for parting the foremost yarn from the othery yarns of each of said series alternately.

11. In a mechanism for alternately parting the foremost warp from the upper and lower. sheets of a series of leased warps, in combination, a pair of alternately opA erative hold-back fingers for engagement with the foremost warp of the respective series, and a wiper member for engaging'V and separating the foremost warp from that series whose hold-back finger is temporarily inoperative.

12. In combination with a mechanism for manipulating threads of a series, a device for sejiarating threads one by one from said series, a device for positioning said threads for a subsequent operation, a positioner device for moving said threads from the poisition occupied when engaged by said positioning device, and a retaining device for .threads of a series, means for moving the endmost thread from said series, means for holding said thread temporarily in a predetermined position, means for moving said. thread from said latter position, and means .for retaining said thread in its new position, the thread remaining 1n the plane ofy the series throughout the entire operation.

14. In a mechanism of the class described, means for separating a thread from a series of continuous threads, for holding said thread stationary temporarily in an intermediate position, and for moving said ythread into a new position to form a second series, the thread remaining substantially in the plane of the series throughout'the entire operation.

15. In a machine of the class described, warp placing means comprising a warp positioner, a warp pusher and a warp retainer, means for guiding said devices for reciproeating movement, a shaft, and means for transmitting movement from said shaft to the said respective warp placing means.

16. In a device for manipulating yarns, means for supporting a series of yarns, means for separating yarns one by one from said series, said separating means comprising a unidirectionally moving resilient member.

17. In a mechanism for separating warps one by one from a series of leased warps, a flexible element movable in a closed path lying substantially in the vertical plane of the crossing of said leased warps, and means.

for moving said flexible element whereby yto cause it to engage a plurality of warps including the endmost warp of said series.

18. In a mechanism, for separating threads one by one from a leased series of continuous threads, a pair of hold-back devices alternately engaging threads of said series at opposite sides of the crossing point thereof, and a separator device operative at a point intermediate of said hold-backs for picking off the endmost thread of theseries.

19. In combination in mechanism of the class described, means for holding a plurality of strands in position for the separation of strands one at a time, and a resilient separator member rotating continuously ina plane intersecting said strands.

20. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable support, means for supporting a warp thread in a plane transverse to the plane of rotation of said support, an :l a flexible separator member lixed to said support and engageable in its rotation with said warp thread.

21. In a machine for placing drop wires on warps, a .rotatable support, and a flexible warp separator carried thereby, said separator being constructed and arranged to flex in the plane of rotation of said support.

22. In a mechanism for. separating threads one by one from a series and for positioning them for a subsequent operation, a rotary separating device and a rcciprocable positioning device.

23. In a machine of the class described, a warp hold-back, a warp separator, a warp positioner, a warp pusher and a warp rotainer, said devices being constructed and arranged to move warp thread successively from one series thereof to another series.

24. In a mechanism for separating threads one by one from a series, means for leasing said series to provide a crossing of the threads thereof, a pair of hold-back devices rocking about fixed axes and movable alternately into-engagement with threads on opposite sides of said crossing, and` cam means for actuating said hold-back devices.

25. In a device for separating threads one by one from a series, a pair of holdback devices engageable with alternate threads of said series, a rotatable shaft, and a pair of cams mounted upon said shaft for actuating the respective hold-back devices, each of said cams comprising active portions and dwell portions, such portionsj being constructedand arranged to maintain one of said hold-back devices in operative position until. the other of said` devices has been moved from inoperative to operative position.

26.` Inv combination in a mechanism for separating threads one by one from a series, means for leasing said series to provide a crossing point, a pair of hold-back devices movable into engagement with the threads uponopposite sidesof the crossing point rcspectively, anda pair of cams for actuating said hold-back devices', said cams each comprising a pair of active surfaces and a dwell surface therebetween.

27. In a mechanism` for separati ng threads one by one from a: series, hold-bach devices for engaging alternatethreads of the series, and cam-means for actuating. said hold-back devices, said cam means each comprising a cam disk having a pair ofactive surfaces with a= pair of dwell surfaces therebetween, one ofv said dwell surfaces being of substantially greater extent than, the other.

28. In a machine of the class described, means for successively separat-ing warps from a series, said means comprising a pair of pivoted hold-back members, andV a pair of cams forpactuating: saidk members in alternation, saidV cams comprising active portions and dwellf portions,.a dwell portion of one cam being arranged substantially diametrieally opposite to thev similar dwell portien ofthe ot ieri cam.

E29. In a textile machine, means for separating successive warps from a series, sa-id means comprising a pair of movable holdback members, and a pair of cams for actuating said members in alternation, said cams each comprising diametrically arranged concentric dwell portions of different angular extents, and active substantially straight portions connecting the ends of said concentric portions.

30. In a machine of the class described, a thread retainer, a thread separator, and a reciprocable thread positioner comprising substantially parallel members spaced to provide a slot for the recept-ion of a thread, said slot being open at one end to permit entrance of the thread.

31. In combination in mechanism of the class described, a thread positioner device comprising elements providing a narrow, open ended slot for the reception of' a thread, and means for reciprocating said device toward said thread whereby to enter the thread within the slot.

32. In a device for separating threads one by one from a series and for positioning said threads for a subsequent position, separating means, and a thread positioner comprising a reciprocable member and a pair of spaced iingers carried thereby, said lingers providing therebetween a narrow slot for the reception of a thread.

33. In a mechanism of the class described, a thread positioner device comprising a member reciprocable toward and from a thread, and a pair of depending elements secured thereto in substantially parallel relation and providing a slot therebetween, said elements at their free extremities being divergent, one from the other.

34. Mechanism for separating successive threads from a horizontally disposed sheet of threads comprising a vertically reciprocable bar having an outstanding bracket, and a pair of substantially parallel fingers depending from the bracket and spaced to provide a vertical slot for the reception of a thread, said fingers diverging at their lower ends.

' 35. In a mechanism of the class described,

in combination, a thread positioner device comprising elements providing a narrow slot therebetween, said slot having a flaring mouth, and means for moving said element toward a thread to cause the entrance of said thread through said `mouth into said slot whereby to hold said thread in definite position.

36. Mechanism for separating successive threads from a horizontally disposed sheet of threads comprising a vertical reciprocable bar provided with a lower portion curved in a vertical plane intersecting the plane of the sheet of threads, said curved portion constituting a .cam .engageable with a thread of the sheet for moving said thread transversely of its length.

37. In a mechanism of the class described, a thread positioner comprising a pair of substantially straight parallel members spaced to provide an open ended thread engaging slot, said members diverging at their extremities to provide a flaring entrance to the slot, and means for reciprocating said positioner in a plane intersecting said thread.

38. In a machine of the class described, a reciprocable thread positioner, having an open ended slot, and means for moving sai member transversely to the thread to cause the latter to enter the slot.

39. In a mechanism for manipulating threads, a device movable toward a thread and having an open ended slot to take over the same, and a thread restraining finger movable with said device and spaced from said slot.

40. Mechanism of the class described comprising a plurality of vertically reciprocable bars, a thread positioner carried by one bar, a thread pusher carried by another bar, a thread retainer carried by another bar, and means for moving said bars in predetermined timed relation.

41. Mechanism of the class described comprising a thread separator, a plurality of reciprocable bars, a thread positioner carried by one bar, a thread pusher carried by another bar, a thread retainer carried by another bar, and means for moving said separator and the several bars in timed relation whereby successively to place the positioner over a thread picked by the separator, to remove the positioner and engage the thread pusher with the thread, and to remove the pusher and engage the retainer with the thread.

42. In a mechanism for manipulating threads, means for picking off threads of a series and advancing the same, a positioning device movable into engagement with a thread so advanced, and a stop member carried by said device and constructed and arranged to prevent the accidental advance of another thread of said series until said first thread has been released by said KYpdsitioning devices.

43. Mechanism for separating successive threads from a sheet of threads comprising a separating member for picking oif the endmost thread from the sheet, and a reciprocable thread positioner having spaced substantially parallel fingers supported at one end and free at the other to provide a slot for the reception of the separated thread, said fingers diverging at their free extremities to provide a flaring entrancelto the slot.

Signed by me at Lawrence this 15th day of June 1923.

SEBASTIANO MAGNANO. 

